If THEY can afford Van Helsing with Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsdale, this can definitely be made. Even a realistically dark animation (Pixar stay away from this one!) would be perferable to not doing this.

Gary

Bert, I did not despise the script, and I definitely don’t despise the genre.  I love LOTR, both in written and movie versions.  I read the novels when I was very young and loved them ever since.  I am not a fan of Harry Potter, but the genre itself is fine with me.

Since I didn’t read the entire thing, I don’t really know about the cost of it, but based on what others have said about this grand visual “new” world, I’d bet it would be expensive to say the least.  Without a built in audience, it would be a big risk, and one that shouldn’t be taken, IMO.  I think it comes down to who the target audience is.  Is this an R rated adult fantasy epic?  Or is it a PG 13 young adult flick?  If it’s the latter, I see a problem in the title alone.  Having “killing” in the title doesn’t sound like a good idea for a PG 13 kids flick.

For me, the issue, right off the bat had to do with this “killing” of a character we know nothing about, and really don’t even “see”.  If the script is all about the “detective work" to figure it out, I don’t see kids or young adults being too thrilled about it.  Seems too slow and dull, but again, I didn’t get past page 10, so I really can’t make that statement.

I am not a Tim Burton fan at all. Only flick of his I liked was “Sleepy Hollow”.  Del Toro is a very visual guy as well, and I’d say I like his work much better.  Didn’t like the Hellboy movies, but loved Blade 2, as well as Pan’s Labyrinth.  Also feel that Neil Jordan, like others have said, is hit and miss.  But, all these guys are big budget, big money people.  As Brian said, this will need a big A lister to make it have a chance, and that’s the big risk here, IMO.

I'm 20 pages in but will finish it today. I'm liking it so far. I haven't read any of the Potter books or seen the films, and haven't seen any other fantasy ones this might be influenced by. I have seen LOTR (i am still disappointed by the way the CGI dominates the third film - hopefully someone in the future will re-do it as it is meant to be in the third book) and read the books at least 50 times.

I don't mind if you guys start discussing it. I already found out by accident that Philo's missus gets butchered!!  shame...their sex scene early on were pretty cool.

Good to hear you, Jeff. Place aint the same without ya, man!  Go dem Niners!!!

Quoted from Dreamscale For me, the issue, right off the bat had to do with this “killing” of a character we know nothing about, and really don’t even “see”.

Yes, I have to say your take on this is kind of wrong, Jeff.

It is a series of killings, in the same vein as Jack the Ripper.

Perhaps "Killings" would have made a better title?

At any rate, I was not really trying to introduce a discussion of a fantasy cast haha -- though most of the comments would make for inspired choices.

It was more about the commercial viability of this script -- skipping past plot points and characters for now, while so many are still reading.

I think this is a PG-13 story that wishes it were an R -- and it would be easy to make it so -- but its commercial appeal is then diminished -- as I think the biggest audience for this sort of film is young adults.

I would imagine this is a very difficult story to pitch.

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. If I could write this well, I would be happy at having achieved a level of quality work that I would feel is very presentable. Sandra

I agree. Why hasn't this been made yet or at least have a cast or SOMETHING?

OK, Bert, as I said, I didn't get past the first killing, and the title is decieving, since it only references 1 killing.

I'll bow out again...for awhiile...but I'll be lurking!

I would have to agree that the title is misleading but for a different reason.  The title evoked for me a carnival-like atmosphere that was not present in the script.  I expected bearded ladies and tattooed men and two headed snake (well I guess that was sort of there but)...

In retrospect, I probably would have liked this story more if it didn't have the human element in it.  I think that's what dragged it down for me.  If it were full of fanciful creatures with strange customs (like the silkie in the beginning) then it would have been a lot more interesting.

Fantastic worlds like the one portrayed in this script make it to the big screen very often. Thing is, it usually happens in the form of PG or PG-13 films that have a better chance of gaining back the big investment that these projects demand.

This seems to be the rule. Dark fantasy flicks like "Pans Labyrinth" seem to be the exception.

Not to mention most of these films are also usually based in preexisting intellectual properties (Harry Potter, Narnia, etc).

That's why I can't imagine the suits in Hollywood excited about gambling on a high budget, R-Rated, bloody, dark fantasy lacking any kind of pre-awareness from part of the audience.

Ironically, this dark tone, is what I liked the most about the script.

Unless some big name like Del Toro takes this project under his wing, I'm afraid this script will remain a writing sample for the author.

Woof, finally finished it... Read the first 20 pgs last week and was not looking forward to finising it.

It was mainly a tough read for me cuz it's loaded with brit jargon and heavy descriptions early. Then again, He painted one hell of a different world. This guy is a master at his use of the English language.

SPOILERS!!!!!

I never felt authentic motivation from the mayor to start this whole project. Especially to murder his wife in the process. With his wife and all the fairies gone, Where does this man plan on getting his fellatio from?

i loved Vignette as a character, had a hard time seeing why she would fall for Philo though. Other than him saving her life. He wasn't very likeable IMO. But he did play that hard ass type that reveals little or no emotion.i guess women can be attracted to that.

The ending seemed a little far-fetched. He did such a good job of keeping reality in check in an unreal world IMO. Would've thought the Haruspex could've dispatched of him far easier then taking him on a ride to the moon. Nice one-liner in there though.

It was a very intruiging script, unlike anything i've ever read before. I could only imagine what a budget for something like this to be done right would cost. This is like Star Wars IMO.

I do get a little tired of the politician being the bad guy. It's always the head honcho. And the lack of faith in humans, again, is brought forth here. How every other race in the Burge seem to have some peace and equality amongst themselves. Yet, some top dawg mayor feels they need to be destroyed.

Would've like a religuous background for the mayor. even a made up religion. That he was some type of fanatic. At least to separate him from the average person.

Also, I'll don't buy a scientist being the "I want to rule the world" type. As was Alcandre's case. maybe destoy the world??? Like the Uni-bomber.

This script did read fast after i got going. I did enjoy it. Characters were very fleshed out. Just thought i state the few qualms i had with it. Thanks for the recommend. He has a unique flare to his writing. Now i think i just learned a whole bunch of new words that aren't even in the dictionary??? I dunno..

I can't wait to talk specifics about this script. In general though I thought the storyline is fairly generic. IMHO, it's the world he created that has the most draw. The characters to me were not very intriguing, but I'm pretty dense, so...  

Bert, this discussion might work better if you tell us what to discuss. Just a suggestion of course.

Either Bert tells us what to discuss or we start discussing him.

If you read the first post I think bert kind of planned this as free for all.  So be free everyone - talk about anything on the list in his first post.

Quoted from Mr.Z Either Bert tells us what to discuss or we start discussing him.

I did hear, on good authority, that he's a woman, despite his name. As I've mentioned previously, that would explain a lot. So is he or not?

Quoted from mcornetto I would have to agree that the title is misleading but for a different reason.  The title evoked for me a carnival-like atmosphere that was not present in the script.  I expected bearded ladies and tattooed men and two headed snake (well I guess that was sort of there but)... In retrospect, I probably would have liked this story more if it didn't have the human element in it.  I think that's what dragged it down for me.  If it were full of fanciful creatures with strange customs (like the silkie in the beginning) then it would have been a lot more interesting.

I feel that the human element is something that exists not only in form, but as a psychological manifestation that pervades the entire story. The question: What does it mean to be human? Is integral to the fabric of this piece as even the Faeries, with their lust, belong here. Kasmir belongs here, although he tempts Philostrate with the hallucinogen, Mabsynthe, and Philo succumbs, he belongs here.

The entirety of the human condition is being played upon this stage and if you take out the human element, you take out the meaning.

Regarding the title:

I agree with the title being changed. I would make strong recommendations to the writer on this. I have the name I would suggest. I just don't know it yet.

Sandra

Sandra is ducking the issue here. She may be completely correct in what she says about this script but, we need to know about 'the waters'. When you're ready SE...